LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -
Instead of the high scoring game that was expected, UNLV and Syracuse instead played in a very competitive defensive struggle on Friday night, with the Orange coming up with the one goal that was enough to hand the Rebels a 1-0 loss in men's college soccer action on Friday night.

Playing in the second game of the UNLV Nike Invitational from Peter Johann Memorial Field, the Rebels (1-5-1) put on their best defensive effort of the season, holding a Syracuse (6-1) team that came in averaging three goals a game (and five goals a game in its past three games) to just the lone goal. That was helped by impressive overall team defensive from the Rebels that included two team saves on the backline. Syracuse was just as strong defensively however, limiting UNLV to only two shots for the first 50 minutes of the game, and only seven for the game.

Syracuse took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute, when Stefanos Stamoulacatos took the ball down the left side before sending a low shot across the box to the far right post for the score. UNLV nearly tied the game later in the half when Nick Marshall set up Salvador Bernal on a 15-yard shot. Orange goalkeeper Alex Bono came out to make the stop for the save, one of two in the game for the Syracuse goalie.

The Orange finished with a 4-2 edge on shots in the first half, and 7-5 in the second for a 11-7 mark for the full game. UNLV had one shot on goal in the second half, but Eddie Vega's shot was stopped again by Bono. Joe Vitale finished the night with three saves for the Rebels. Corner kicks would finish 7-1 in favor of the Orange.

UNLV will return to action on Sunday when it takes on Canisius at 1 pm in the final game of the Nike Invitational.